On 27/12/2006, at 3:44 AM, Gary Nunn wrote: > > A question that came up in a deep, late night conversation.... > > Was religion a necessary tool for building moral and ethical > standards in > early civilizations or social groups? Or did someone simply invent > the fear > of "Going To Hell" to impose their will on the masses? > > I suppose that also implies the question of if morality and ethical > behavior > is a learned response or if they could be a genetic response.
Damon answered a part of it very well indeed - there is evidence that ethical behaviour predates religion (and far predates organised religion). The concept of altruism (whether "true" altruism or delayed payback which is well established through both game theory and observation of many species) far predates our own species and is common among social creatures. As for genetic response, first it's important to understand that behaviour can be genetic just as eye colour is genetic or height has a large genetic component (and a nutritional component). There can be genes for very complex behaviours. Separating these from learned behaviours (generally known as culture if they're passed on through a group) can be hard, but something as complex as dam building in beavers is an innate genetic trait. I would not be surprised to find that aggression and kindness were genetic or had large genetic components. So, to go back to your original question, was religion a necessary tool? I think it was probably an emergent effect of lots of other developments in language and culture, and quite possibly was selected for quite strongly if tribes with religion stayed together better and were more productive as a result of ritual. Some tribes even today have some fairly complex religious ritual associated with crop planting that have maximised their productivity. No, I don't think religion was a necessary tool, we'd probably have managed ok without it. But it was a massive advantage to groups that had it, and as a meme it still works well (in that it spreads easily, mainly 'cause it's often a lot easier than other explanations and it provides a huge perceived benefit, and probably a real one in terms of survival and fitness among the disadvantaged). It certainly *has* been used to impose the will of the authoritarian on the masses. Charlie. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
